Periodic Reporting for period 3 - GEN4OLIVE (Mobilization of Olive GenRes through pre-breeding activities to face the future challenges and development of an intelligent interface to ensure a friendly information availability for end users)
Période du rapport: 2023-10-01 au 2025-03-31
The GEN4OLIVE project sought to unlock the full potential of olive genetic resources (GenRes) by bringing them closer to breeders, researchers, and farmers. The olive sector is of vital socio-economic and cultural importance in the Mediterranean Basin and a strategic agricultural sector in Europe.
Recent trends show alarming levels of biodiversity loss and genetic erosion in crops, threatening sustainability and food security. In the olive sector, the rise of high-density monocultures, emerging diseases, and climate change jeopardise long-term productivity. Despite this, the genetic resources that could help address these challenges remain underexploited. GEN4OLIVE was designed to bridge this gap by mobilising and valorising olive genetic diversity through coordinated action.
The project aimed to: (1) conduct large-scale pre-breeding of over 500 olive cultivars and wild/ancient genotypes, focusing on resilience, productivity, and suitability for modern systems; (2) develop a user-friendly digital platform for GenRes data; (3) launch technologies such as biomarkers and mobile apps based on machine learning for cultivar and disease identification; and (4) engage SMEs via two open calls to promote innovation. GEN4OLIVE brought together 16 partners from seven countries, supported by the International Olive Council (IOC), with the FAO as part of the Advisory Board, facilitating access to genetic material, facilities, and expertise.
Recent trends show alarming levels of biodiversity loss and genetic erosion in crops, threatening sustainability and food security. In the olive sector, the rise of high-density monocultures, emerging diseases, and climate change jeopardise long-term productivity. Despite this, the genetic resources that could help address these challenges remain underexploited. GEN4OLIVE was designed to bridge this gap by mobilising and valorising olive genetic diversity through coordinated action.
The project aimed to: (1) conduct large-scale pre-breeding of over 500 olive cultivars and wild/ancient genotypes, focusing on resilience, productivity, and suitability for modern systems; (2) develop a user-friendly digital platform for GenRes data; (3) launch technologies such as biomarkers and mobile apps based on machine learning for cultivar and disease identification; and (4) engage SMEs via two open calls to promote innovation. GEN4OLIVE brought together 16 partners from seven countries, supported by the International Olive Council (IOC), with the FAO as part of the Advisory Board, facilitating access to genetic material, facilities, and expertise.
GEN4OLIVE successfully completed its planned tasks, delivering significant progress beyond the state of the art in olive pre-breeding. It laid the groundwork for valorising neglected traditional cultivars and structuring new breeding programmes. The phenotyping of over 500 cultivars and identification of early biomarkers for marker-assisted selection (MAS) also enable future genome-wide association studies (GWAS), streamlining breeding processes. Machine learning tools were introduced to modernise cultivar and disease identification.
One of the core activities was the identification and conservation of wild olive populations across the Mediterranean, characterised both agronomically and genetically. Ancient olive trees were also located and evaluated as sources of untapped diversity.
The five participating germplasm banks (GBs) conducted phenotypic evaluations of more than 500 cultivars, assessing phenology, stress resistance, productivity traits, and oil quality. This revealed previously undocumented intra-specific variation in oleic acid and phenolics, relevant for breeding and health claims. All data were made publicly accessible via: https://www.uco.es/ucolivo/gen4olive/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).
This online platform provides a visual olive cultivars catalogue with high-resolution images of tree architecture, fruits, leaves, endocarps, and branches. Profiles include synonyms, country of origin, and GB locations.
Another key achievement was the study of genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions using 7 shared cultivars across the five banks. Findings confirmed strong environmental effects on phenology, biotic and abiotic stress sensitivity, and phenolic compounds, while oil fatty acid composition showed genetic stability. As an additional fort, the GBs replicated 15 new cultivars (6 replicates) in the same conditions to enable long-term monitoring of environmental effects.
Genomic and transcriptomic tools identified markers linked to resistance to Verticillium dahliae, Xylella fastidiosa, drought, cold, and fruit bruising. Two miRNAs and several genes related to juvenility were validated as early selection markers. Several plant hormones and metabolites were identified as promising indicators of stress resilience.
So, with all this data, GEN4OLIVE developed a free, intuitive online database of over 500 cultivars and laid the foundation for AI tools for cultivar and disease recognition. These tools are available to the public but require further training to improve robustness across conditions.
The two cascade funding calls successfully engaged SMEs, funding 25 third-party projects.
Collaboration with the International Olive Council (IOC) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led to a major result: the formal inclusion of the Córdoba World Olive Germplasm Bank under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA), ensuring long-term preservation and equitable access.
Dissemination included 31 scientific publications, dozens under review, and presence in over 40 conferences and trade fairs. The exploitation strategy identified 11 innovation pathways and produced two patent applications. GEN4OLIVE has made a strong contribution to modernising olive breeding and genetic resource management.
One of the core activities was the identification and conservation of wild olive populations across the Mediterranean, characterised both agronomically and genetically. Ancient olive trees were also located and evaluated as sources of untapped diversity.
The five participating germplasm banks (GBs) conducted phenotypic evaluations of more than 500 cultivars, assessing phenology, stress resistance, productivity traits, and oil quality. This revealed previously undocumented intra-specific variation in oleic acid and phenolics, relevant for breeding and health claims. All data were made publicly accessible via: https://www.uco.es/ucolivo/gen4olive/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).
This online platform provides a visual olive cultivars catalogue with high-resolution images of tree architecture, fruits, leaves, endocarps, and branches. Profiles include synonyms, country of origin, and GB locations.
Another key achievement was the study of genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions using 7 shared cultivars across the five banks. Findings confirmed strong environmental effects on phenology, biotic and abiotic stress sensitivity, and phenolic compounds, while oil fatty acid composition showed genetic stability. As an additional fort, the GBs replicated 15 new cultivars (6 replicates) in the same conditions to enable long-term monitoring of environmental effects.
Genomic and transcriptomic tools identified markers linked to resistance to Verticillium dahliae, Xylella fastidiosa, drought, cold, and fruit bruising. Two miRNAs and several genes related to juvenility were validated as early selection markers. Several plant hormones and metabolites were identified as promising indicators of stress resilience.
So, with all this data, GEN4OLIVE developed a free, intuitive online database of over 500 cultivars and laid the foundation for AI tools for cultivar and disease recognition. These tools are available to the public but require further training to improve robustness across conditions.
The two cascade funding calls successfully engaged SMEs, funding 25 third-party projects.
Collaboration with the International Olive Council (IOC) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led to a major result: the formal inclusion of the Córdoba World Olive Germplasm Bank under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA), ensuring long-term preservation and equitable access.
Dissemination included 31 scientific publications, dozens under review, and presence in over 40 conferences and trade fairs. The exploitation strategy identified 11 innovation pathways and produced two patent applications. GEN4OLIVE has made a strong contribution to modernising olive breeding and genetic resource management.
GEN4OLIVE united leading Mediterranean germplasm banks, research centres, and private stakeholders to demonstrate the agronomic value of olive GenRes and foster breeding innovation. Harmonised evaluation protocols across partners improved trait comparability, conservation, and breeding efficiency.
Over 500 cultivars were evaluated for phenology, productivity, oil quality, and stress tolerance over four seasons. This revealed hidden potential within existing collections and enabled the discovery of wild Olea genotypes across the Mediterranean. Seed and vegetative collections were established for long-term conservation, and selected material is prepared for secure storage in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, with legal agreements finalised for 2025 deposition.
GEN4OLIVE outcomes are expected to deliver long-term benefits by enabling the selection of cultivars with better yields, oil quality, and climate resilience. This will reduce dependency on a narrow set of cultivars, mitigate genetic erosion, and support sustainability.
The project also accelerated breeding by integrating transcriptomics and genomics, focusing on: (a) identifying resistance-linked markers, (b) reducing juvenility via early markers, and (c) improving forced growth techniques. These innovations will reduce costs and improve breeding timelines, providing economic benefit to the sector.
A total of 61 deliverables were submitted, many with high scientific value. Digitalisation was advanced through an open online interface and two AI-powered tools accessible via mobile devices.
GEN4OLIVE also empowered 25 companies through open calls, fostering new public–private synergies. These collaborations led to new research lines, tools, and innovation opportunities. Its integration of scientific, digital, and commercial strategies makes GEN4OLIVE a model for future breeding programmes.
By aligning science, stakeholder needs, and policy dialogue, GEN4OLIVE has become a reference project for olive research and a key contributor to the future of sustainable agriculture.
Over 500 cultivars were evaluated for phenology, productivity, oil quality, and stress tolerance over four seasons. This revealed hidden potential within existing collections and enabled the discovery of wild Olea genotypes across the Mediterranean. Seed and vegetative collections were established for long-term conservation, and selected material is prepared for secure storage in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, with legal agreements finalised for 2025 deposition.
GEN4OLIVE outcomes are expected to deliver long-term benefits by enabling the selection of cultivars with better yields, oil quality, and climate resilience. This will reduce dependency on a narrow set of cultivars, mitigate genetic erosion, and support sustainability.
The project also accelerated breeding by integrating transcriptomics and genomics, focusing on: (a) identifying resistance-linked markers, (b) reducing juvenility via early markers, and (c) improving forced growth techniques. These innovations will reduce costs and improve breeding timelines, providing economic benefit to the sector.
A total of 61 deliverables were submitted, many with high scientific value. Digitalisation was advanced through an open online interface and two AI-powered tools accessible via mobile devices.
GEN4OLIVE also empowered 25 companies through open calls, fostering new public–private synergies. These collaborations led to new research lines, tools, and innovation opportunities. Its integration of scientific, digital, and commercial strategies makes GEN4OLIVE a model for future breeding programmes.
By aligning science, stakeholder needs, and policy dialogue, GEN4OLIVE has become a reference project for olive research and a key contributor to the future of sustainable agriculture.